This Premier Cru wine comes off a small plot of old vines on the Les Boudots 1er Cru vineyard in Nuits-St-Georges. Firm and robust, with distinct blackberry fruits and earthy nuances the wines pronounced slightly rustic tannins, lend it the structure to age gracefully for up to two decades.

In the upper echelon of 2nd Growth estates, Chateau Cos D''Estournel is located in St-Estephe appelltion, on the fringe of Paulliac and notably just north of the famed Lafite vineyards. Tourists flock to the Medoc estate to see the unusual, Asian-inspired Chateau design, but the wines hold their own and rightfully are considered the finest within St-Estephe. Oak is set to around 80% new barrels while alcohol is a modest 14.5%; the blend in 2010 is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon with 19% Merlot and complimentary Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot in tow. A wine for thirty or so years.

Dating back over 800 years in the Bordeaux region, Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is owned today by Daniel and Florence Cathiard. The estate also features a world class spa, which specialises in Vinotherapie - using grape extracts in many of their treatments. Up until the year 2000, the estate was not known for producing top quality wines, however in the capable hands of the Cathiard family and after over a decade of hard work and reinvention, the wines truly began to come into their own. It has been, in the words of Andrew Caillard, an astonishing ascendancy in the past 15 years, and given the sterling reviews the 2016 vintage has received, its trajectory seems set to continue its meteoric rise.

“Three barrels made. No great depth of colour, a light crimson purple, with such a striking elegance to the nose. Clean and crisp, light to medium bodied, but all the finesse of this fine terroir with a crisp mineral finish. The weight of the wine feels like three stars but the sheer class has tipped me just into a fourth.” 92-94 points, Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy

The 2022 Benjamin Leroux Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Petite Chapelle is a stunning representation of the terroir of Gevrey-Chambertin, France. The wine is a rich, deep garnet in color, with aromas of ripe dark berries, black cherries, and a hint of earthiness. On the palate, this Premier Cru offers a complex and harmonious blend of blackcurrants, plums, and subtle notes of spice, all carried by a firm yet velvety tannic structure. The finish is long and lingering, with a touch of minerality that speaks to the wine's origins. Benjamin Leroux, renowned winemaker based in France, has crafted a masterpiece with this vintage, showcasing the true potential of this premier appellation. This Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Petite Chapelle is a wine to be savored and appreciated for years to come.

DOMAINE LUCIEN LE MOINE 1er Cru Les Petits Vougeots, Vougeot Lucien Le Moine is a unique négocianthaute couture is often how they are described. Husband and wife, Mounir and Rotem Saouma source small parcels of wine from many producers. Their contribution to the wine is in the elevage, esoteric regime which changes each vintage relying on Mounirs sensory talents forged in a Trappist monastery in Lebanon and honed in their vaulted cellars in the Cote dOr. Working with the best (Jupilles, FRA), fine-grained new oak, the Saoumas produce a staggering number of Grands and 1er Crus cuvees.

On the palate it is very vigorous, rich in extracts, with lively and pleasant tannins that are rounded through a skilful use of wood. A powerful, tantalizing wine with a great ageing potential.